Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Billy Budd: The Shirtless Option?

Members of several online opera sites are speculating whether next season's production of Billy Budd will find Nathan Gunn shirtless in the title role or not. Though the Met's production hasn't as yet featured a topless Billy - Gunn seems to appear regularly in roles that "require" him to have at least a scene or two sans a shirt. I'm guessing his Met costume will be a bit "briefer" than past interpreters of the role at Lincoln Center.

The role of Billy has - in a great many productions over the last 20 years or so - featured quite a number of half naked Budd's. Here are a few of the more famous/notable ones. Note: none of them is Mr. Gunn.

About Me

Crazy, free spirit, originally from New York with side trips through DC, Chicagoland, Tennessee and Florida. Maine is home. Love anything to do with sports, music, food, movies, theatre. Least favorite things: fashion, pretentious people, today's hot new country.